Motor-controlling apparatus.



IJATBNTED' APR. 2a, 1903 J. D. -IHLDER. MOTOR O'ONTROLLING' APPARATUS.

APPLIOAI'ION rum) MAY 5, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

N0. 726,303. r v PATENTED APR. 28, 1903.. J. D. IHLDER.

MOTOR CONTROLLING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1902.

.110 10931,. s sums-sum z 6 mm J PATENTED APR. 28, 1903 'J. n. IHLDBR.

MOTOR CONTROLLING. APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED MAY 5, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3L N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES.

JOHN D. IHLDER, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MOTOR-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,303, dated April 28, 1903.

Application filed May 5, 1902. Serial No. 106,071. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. IHLDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers,

in the county of Westchester and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for controlling electric motors, and is designed more [0 especially for the control of alternating-current motors in connection with elevators or hoists, to which my improved controlling apparatus is particularly applicable, although it may be applied to direct-current motors and used in any other connections where it may be found useful.

The objects of my invention are primarily to enable the starting, stopping, and reversing of the motor to be readily controlled in a simple and efficient manner and to enable the application of the brake to be controlled by means of the same apparatus which controls the motor.

To these ends my invention consists of the apparatus fully described and shown and having the general mode of operation disclosed in the accompanying specification and drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of the principal mechanical parts of the apparatus assembled and illustrated as applied to elevator control. Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view in perspective of the brake and the starting-switch in open-circuit position.

5 Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of the starting-switch in closed-circuit position with the faceplate and a portion of the parts removed. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the motor, the reversing-switch showing the motor-circuit closed in one direction and the startingswitch in open circuit, with suitable operative circuits and connections between said switches and motor. a

My invention is illustrated in connection 5 with elevator apparatus, and, referring to the drawings in Fig. 1, upon the baseA is mounted in this instance an induction-motor B, of which Ct is the starter or primary part and b the motor or secondary part, the slip-rings and electric conections being omitted in Fig.

1 for the sakeof simplicity. The motor may be connected in any desired manner to the sheave O, upon which is shown the hoistingcable. Upon the frame D are supported a reversing-switch E, a starting-switch behind the face-plate F, and the sheave G, over which is passed the hand-rope g, adapted to be connected to an elevator-car.

The reversing-switch E (illustrated in perspective in Fig. 1) is preferably of the same type as that fully disclosed in mycopending application, Serial No. 106,074, filed May 5, 1902, for improvements in electric switches, and I have not shown the reversing-switchin all its details in this application, since its 6: specific construction forms no part of my present invention. In Fig. 4, however, I have illustrated the switch diagrammatically in such manner as to show its mode of operation and use in connection with my improved 7o controlling apparatus.

A brake-beam H is provided, connected to operate a brake for the motor and carrying a weight h, adjustable on its outerend, the

brake and its operative parts being more fully shown in Fig. 2. Any suitable operative connections (not shown) may be provided between the sheave G and the segmental gear 1 on the shaftfof reversing-switch E for actuating said switch in the desired direction, according to the movement of the rope g and sheave G.

A suitable shipper-bar I is arranged to actuate the starting-switch and brake in a manner to be described, and said shipper-bar is connected to be operated by the means for actuating the reversing-switch E. Any suitable operative connections may be provided for accomplishing these ends; but, as shown in dotted lines, the shipper-bar I is pivot-ally 0 connected in this instance to the sheave G at the pointj and pivotally supported at its other end upon a pin 70, connecting the shipper-bar to a forked lever Z, pivoted by a pin m to the standard J. Oscillation of thesheave 5 G will then rock the shipper-bar and lever Z about the pin m, thus providing means for actuating the starting-switch by means of a cam K, connected to the shipper-bar and preferably formed integral therewith and of sub- I o stantially the conformation shown. A follower in the form of a roller L is provided upon the rod 01., which in turn is connected to operate the starting-switch M. (Fully illustrated in Fig. 2.)

According to the construction shown the cam K is so'formed that during the first part of the movement of the shipper-bar I about the pin m the roller L will bear upon the surface 0 and no vertical movement will be im parted to the roller. In order to accomplish this end, and referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the distance from the roller to the pin m must always remain the same as long as the roller bears upon the cam-surface o, and during this first portion of the movement of the shipperbar the segmental gear twill-be oscillated in one direction or another to close circuit at the .ering the end of rod n to which the roller is connected and actuating the starting-switch M. In order that the brake may be removed as the reversing-switch is closed, operative connections are provided between the brakebeam H and the shipper-bar, as shown, a link N, provided with shoulders 0, being pivotally connected to the lever Z, while a rod P is connected to the brake-beam and passing through a lug Q, on the standard J, and the link N is arranged to be actuated by movement of the lever Z and link N. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there is slight lost motion between the rod P and link N, this being provided for by the position of the pin r. In the posit-ion of the parts illustrated the brake, which may be of any suitable description, as a brake-strap R, is shown applied, and in this position a coil-spring s, surrounding rod P, is under compression between the shoulders O and washers t on lug Q, the weight h serving to apply the brake-strap R, which is suitably connected, as shown, to the brake-beam H. The rocking of lever Z raises the rod P, and with it the weight h, thereby releasing the brake.

Referring now to the construction of the starting-switch M, upon a suitable plate or frame S, Fig. 3, are secured supports 1 for series ofcontacts 2, the contacts being shown in diagrammaticperspective in Fig. 2 and arranged on each side of the center. Contactarms 3 are suitably pivoted adjacent the contacts 2 for rotation or oscillation about vert-ical axes, as shown, brackets 4 being secured as a vertically-movable member or plate T, pivotally supported between the sets of arms by means of a pin 8 upon a rod U, moving in a suitable dash-pot. The member T is preferably of the shape illustrated, with legs straddling the dash-pot, which forms a guide for the plate in its vertical movement. The plate T is provided with cams or cam-surfaces, preferably formed by notches 1] in the sides of the plate, forming shoulders 12, 13, and 14, the shoulders 12 having a longer bearing-surface than 13 and shoulders 14 being shortest of all. Any suitable number of contact-cams and cam-surfaces may be employed, according to the number of steps in which the starting resistance is to be controlled, I having shown thereon three contact-arms and contacts cooperating therewith in order to illustrate my invention. To the inner ends of the arms 3 are connected followers or rollers 15, pivoted for rotation about axes at right angles to the vertical axes about which the arms 3 oscillate and bearing against the cam-surfaces of the plate T. In the position of the switch as shown in Fig. 2 the rollers 15 bear against the shoulders on the plate T, which is in its lowermost position, and the circuit is open at the contacts, since the arms 3 have been rocked on their hinge-pins to move the contacts 6 away from stationary contacts 2. In Fig. 3 the plate T is in its uppermost position and the circuit is closed, the rollers having entered the notches 11 and allowed the contacts to come together. Any suitable means may be provided, if necessary, to press the rollers against the plate T, so that the followers or rollers 15 will follow the cam-surfaces of the plate. The rod 71, as shown, is suitably pivoted, as at 1'7, and is forked and pivotally connected to the plate T at 18, so that vertical movement of the roller L on the outer end of this rod willcause vertical movement of the plate. A spring V abuts against a cap 19 at the top of the plate and against the dash-pot 9 and is under compression when the plate T is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 2, so that its pressure causes upward movement of the plate and downward movement of the roller L when the roller is released by the cam K'on the shipper-bar. In the upward movement of the plate the contact-arms 3 are actuated in pairs, since first the rollers 15 on the lowermost arms enter the notches 11 at each side, then the next pair, and so on.

As stated, the reversing-switch E is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4, in which the cams 20, 21, and 22 are shown separately, it being understood that they are all three embodied side by side in one structure or member, (shown at \/V in Fig. 1,) with cam 21 between 20 and 22 and mounted on the shaftv f. Pivoted at each side of the cams are pairs of contact-arms 23, provided with contacts 24, cooperating with contacts 25,and also provided with rollers 26, bearing upon the cams 20 and 22, respectively. Another and separate arm teases 29, and also provided with a roller 30, hearing upon cam 21. Springs 31 press the rollers normally against the cams, which are formed substantially as shown in this figure,

cams 20 and 22 having depressed portions 32, while cam 21 is provided with horns 33, the largest diameters of all the cams being the same.

From the construction described, since all the cams are connected to move together and all the arms are independently movable, suitable rotation imparted to the cams, as by means of the segmental gear 1', will cause ac tuation of the arms. In Fig. 4 the circuit is shown closed at arms 23 on the right and at the separate arm 27, while it is open at arms 23 on the left, since the central memberW of Fig. 1 has been rotated to the right and the rollershave passed onto the depressed portions of the cams. Movement of the member W to the left from a central position will 'close circuit between the arms 23 at the left will always remain unaffected. Suitable connections are made for this purpose from the mains 34 35 36 through switches 37 38 39 by wires 40, 41, and 42 to contacts 25 and 29 of the reversing-switch,while the contacts on the arms are connected by flexible conductors 43 to binding-posts 44, which in turn are suitably connected by continuations of the leadwires to the binding-posts 45 46 47 on the starter or primary a of the induction-motor B in such manner that the current will be reversed in the connections leading to bindingposts 45 and 47, but will never be reversed in the connection leading to the post 46, as is well understood in the art. Cross connection 48 is made between contacts 25 on the reversing-switch to carry out this end.

In Fig. 4 the starting-switch M is also diagrammatically illustrated in order to show more clearly the circuits, although they are also shown in Fig. 2. In order to obtain larger starting torque for the current drawn and to prevent a too great rush of current when the motor is switched, a resistance is inserted in the circuit of the secondary of the motor, which resistance is gradually short-circuited as the motor speeds up. As is well known, a

three-phase winding for the motor or secondary is the best for cases where starting resist ance is inserted, and such secondaries may of course be employed in any induction-motor, whether two-phase, three-phase, or single phase, provided it is designed for the same number of poles as the primary. Such threephase secondaries may be either star-connected or mesh-connected, and they may be either lap or wave wound. In view of these conditions I prefer to use a three-phase secondary or motor the winding of which may be of any desired character and between the circuit- Wires 50, 51, and 52 led, respectively, from the brushes bearing on the slip-rings 53 54 55. Preferably non-inductive resistances X, Y, and Z are inserted in this instance in mesh connection or what is known as delta fashion, although they could be star-connected, if desired. Preferably two of these resistancesas shown Y and Zare variable,while resistance X is fixed or constant and is so maintained as the motor starts, not being short-circuited, while the resistances Y. and Z are varied as the motor speeds up. The leads 5O 51 52 (shown in heavy lines) are led from the motor to the resistances, and the fixed resistance X is connected between the end 53 of lead 52 and the end 54 of lead 50. The variable resistance Y is connected between the end 54 on lead and the end 55 of lead 51, while the variable resistance Z is connected between the end 55 of lead 51 back to a point 56 on lead 52.

The mechanical construction of the starting-switch is shown in diagram in Fig. 4, with the reference characters applied to the parts as in Figs. 2 and 3; butinstead of pivoted contact-arms 3 it will be assumed that the arms move to and from the stationary contacts 2 in order to make and break the circuit. As the plate T moves upward first the lowermost pairs of movable and stationary contacts are closed, and so on upward.

Electrical connections are made from points 00 y a on variable resistance Y to contacts 2 on the right of the switch, and connections are also made from the points a," y a on variable resistance Z to contacts 2 on the left of the switch, while connection is made between contacts 57 and 58 by means of awire 60, and connection is made from contact 58 to a point 59 on lead 51. The movable contacts 6 on each side of the switch are then connected to each other, preferably by flexible conductors 61.

When the lowermost pairs of fixed contacts 2 and movable contacts 6 are closed, a portion of each of the resistances Y and Z is short-circuited. In other words, that portion of resistance Y included between the points as and 54 remains in circuit and that portion of resistance Z included between the points 00 and 55 remains in circuit. When the mid dle pair of contact-arms 3 are actuated, the portions of resistances Y and Z included between the points :1 54 and y 55 are still included in circuit, and when the uppermost contact-arms 3are actuated thewhole of resistances Y and Z are short-circuited, it being understood that there may be any desired number of steps in varying the resistances to short-circuit the whole of Y and Z 'as the motor speeds up. i 1

I do not herein claim anything disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 111,055, filed June 10, 1902, nor in my other copending application, Serial No. 106,074, filed May 5, 1902.

Without limiting myself to the construction shown and described, I claim 1. In apparatus for controlling inductionmotors, the combination with the primary of the motor, of a three-phase secondary, fixed and variable resistances in the secondary circuit, and means for short-circuiting said variable resistances without varying the fixed resistance as the motor starts, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an induction-motor, of constant and variable resistances in the secondary circuit, a plurality of sets of pivoted contact-arms,contacts cooperatingtherewith, electric connections between the resistances and said contacts, and means for actuating said contact-arms, whereby the variable resistances are controlled,substantially as described.

3. The combination with an induction-motor, of a constant resistance and a plurality of variable resistances in the secondary circuit, and a switch for simultaneously controlling the variable resistance comprising a plurality of sets of contact-arms, contacts cooperating therewith, electric connections between the switch and the variable resistance, and means for actuating said contact-arms in pairs, each pair comprising an arm in each set, substantially as described.

4. The combination with an induction-motor, of a constant and a plurality of variable resistances in the secondary circuit and means for controlling said variable resistances comprising a plurality of sets of contact-arms, contacts cooperating therewith, connections between said contacts and the resistances,and means for actuating said contact-arms in pairs, whereby the variable resistances are simultaneously controlled, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an induction-motor, of fixed and variable resistances in the secondary circuit, a switch for controlling said variable resistances comprising a verticallymovable member notched at the sides, sets of angular contact-arms pivoted at each side of said member and provided with rollers adapted to cooperate with said movable member, contacts cooperating with said contact-arms, means for moving the member whereby the contact-arms are actuated, and electric connections between said contacts and the resistance, substantially as described.

' 6.' The combination with an induction-n10- tor, of fixed and variable resistances in the secondary circuit, and a starting-switch for controlling said variable resistance as the motor starts,said switch comprising a frame,contacts thereon,a vertically-movable cam-plate, and means for actuating the same, independently-movable arms pivoted at each side of the cam-plate, contacts on said arms, and followers connected to the arms and bearing on said cam-plate whereby movement of the camplate actu ates said arms, and circuits and connections between the switch and said resistances in the secondary circuit of the motor, substantially as described.

7. In apparatus for controlling inductionmotors, the combination with the primary of the motor, of a three-phase secondary, fixed and variable resistances in the secondary circuit, and a switch for short-circuiting said variable resistances as the motor starts, comprising a frame, contacts thereon, a vertically-movable cam-plate and means for actuating the same, independently-movable arms pivoted at each side of the cam-plate, contacts on said arms and followers connected to the arms and bearing on the cam-plate, whereby movement of said cam -plate actuates said arms, and circuits and connections between the switch and said resistances in the secondary circuit and the resistances, substantially as described.

8. In apparatusfor controlling inductionmotors, the combination with the primary of the motor, of a three-phase secondary, fixed and variable resistances in the secondary circuit and a switch for short-circuiting said variable resistances as the motor starts without varying the fixed resistance, comprising a frame and contacts thereon, a movable member provided with cam-surfaces, and means for moving said member, independently-movable arms pivoted adjacent said member, contacts on said arms and followers connected to the arms whereby movement of said member actuates the arms, and circuits and connections between the switch and the resistances,

substantially as described.

9. The combination with the primary of an induction-motor of a three-phase secondary, fixed and variable resistances in the secondary circuit and a switch for varying said variable resistances as the motor starts, comprising a plurality of independently-movable pivoted contact-arms and contacts cooperating therewith, means for successively actuating said contact-arms as the motor starts, and circuits and connections between the switch and the resistances,substantially as described.

10. The combination with an induction-motor, of fixed and variable resistances in the secondary circuit, and a switch for controlling said variable resistances comprising essentially a plurality of independently-movable contact-arms,contacts cooperatin g therewith, means for successively actuating said contact-arms, and electric connections between the switch and the resistances, substantially as described.

11. The combination with an induction-motor, of a constant and a plurality of variable resistances in the secondary circuit, and a switch for sim ultaneousl y short-circuiting the Variable resistances as the motor starts, consisting of a plurality of sets of pivoted contact-arms, contacts cooperating therewith, electric connections between the switch and the resistances, and means for successively actuating the contact-arms of the sets, substantially as described.

12. The combination with an induction-motor of fixed and variable resistances in the secondary circuit and a switch for short-circuiting said variable resistances, as the motor starts comprising a verticallymovable member with notched edges forming cam-surfaces, sets of angular contact-arms pivoted at each side of said member for movement about a vertical axis and provided with rollers hearing upon said member, contacts cooperating with the contact-arms, means for moving said member whereby the contact-arms are actuated to open and close circuits, and electric connections between the switch and the variable resistances, substantially as described.

13. The combination with an induction-motor, of fixed and variable resistances, a switch for controlling said variable resistances comprising a vertically-movable member, a plurality of contact-arms pivoted for movement about vertical axes, contacts cooperating therewith, electric connections between said contacts and the resistance, and means for actuating said movable member vertically, whereby the contact-arms are oscillated about vertical axes, substantially as described.

14. The combination with an induction-motor, of fixed and variable resistances in the secondary circuit, a switch for controlling said variable resistances, comprising essentially a vertically-movable notched plate, means for maintaining said plate in its lowermost position, contact arms pivoted for movement about vertical axes at each side of said plate, contacts cooperating with said arms, electric connections between said switch and the resistances, and means for raising and lowering said plate whereby the contact-arms are actuated about vertical axes, substantially as described.

15. The combination with an induction-motor of fixed and variable resistances in the secondary circuit, a switch for controlling said variable resistances comprising essentially a plurality of angular contact-arms rotatable about vertical axes, contacts cooperating therewith, electric connections between the switch and the resistances, a verticallymovable member in operativeconnection with said contact-arms, and means for actuating said contact-arms about vertical axes by imparting a vertical movement to said member, substantially as described.

16. In apparatus for controlling motors, the combination with a motor, of a reversing switch, a starting-switch, a brake, means for actuating the reversing-switch, and a shipperbar for actuating the starting-switch and brake, said shipper-bar being connected to be operated by the means for actuating the reversing-switch, substantially as described.

17. In apparatus for controlling motors, the combination with a motor, of a reversingswitch, a starting-switch, means for actuating the reversing-switch, and a shipper-bar provided with a cam for actuating the starting-switch, said shipper-bar being connected to be operated by the means for actuating the reversing-switch, whereby the reversingswitch is first closed in the desired direction before the starting-switch is actuated, substantially as described.

18. In' apparatus for controlling motors, the combination with a motor, of a reversingswitch, a starting-switch,'a brake, means for actuating the reversing-switch, and a shipper bar provided with a .cam for actuating the starting switch and brake, said shipper-bar being connected to be operated by the means for actuating the reversing-switch, whereby the reversing-switch is first closed in the desired direction and the brake removed, before the starting-switch is actuated, substantially as described.

19. In apparatus for controlling elevators, the combination with an induction-motor, of fixed and variable resistances in the second ary circuit thereof, a switch for controlling said variable resistances as the motor starts comprising essentially a vertically-movable plate provided with cams, means for maintaining said plate in its lowermost position, angular contact-arms pivoted at each side of the plate and adapted to be actuated by the cams thereon, contacts cooperating with said arms, electric connections between the switch and the resistances, and a shipper-bar connected to move said plate vertically, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN D. IHLDER.

Witnesses:

O. B. MANVILLE, F. W. NEWELL. 

